Chrysanthemum plant named `Estrella`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Estrella`, characterized by its large decorative spoon-type inflorescences that are about 8 cm in diameter; attractive bright yellow ray florets; numerous inflorescences per stem; numerous ray florets per inflorescence; large leaves; and exceptional postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for at least four weeks in an interior environment after one week of cool storage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora andreferred to by the cultivar name Estrella.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Salinas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program isto create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars having inflorescences withdesirable colors and good form and substance.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor inJanuary, 1993, in Salinas, Calif., of the commercial cultivar Madera(disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,690) as the female, or seed, parentwith an unnamed proprietary seedling selection, code number 3696, as themale, or pollen, parent. The female parent, the commercial cultivarMadera, is a bronze decorative spray-type cut Chrysanthemum. The maleparent, seedling number 3696, is described as a bronze single spoon-typecut Chrysanthemum.

The cultivar Estrella was discovered and selected by the inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Alva, Fla., in April, 1994. The selection of this plantwas based on its desirable inflorescence color and good form andsubstance.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Alva, Fla., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The cultivar Estrella has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Estrella`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Estrella` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large decorative spoon-type inflorescences that are about 8 cm indiameter.

2. Attractive bright yellow ray florets.

3. Numerous inflorescences per stem.

4. Numerous ray florets per inflorescence.

5. Large leaves.

6. Exceptional postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for at least four weeks in an interiorenvironment after one week of cool storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of `Estrella` grown as aspray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of typical inflorescences of the cultivar Estrella.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typicalinflorescences of the cultivar Estrella.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces ofleaves of the cultivar Estrella. Floret and foliage colors in thephotographs may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif., undercommercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Rootedcuttings were planted Apr. 25, 1997 and cut flowers were harvested onJul. 10, 1997. After planting rooted cuttings of the new cultivar,plants received 18 long day/short nights following by short day/longnights until flowering. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for five typical flowering stems.

Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar Estrella.

Commercial classification: Decorative spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unnamed proprietary Dendranthema grandifloraseedling selection, code number 3696.

Female or seed parent.--Dendrantheam grandiflora cultivar Madera(disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,690).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous decorative spray-type cut flower.Stems upright, uniform habit and freely branching.

Flowering stem length.--About 81 cm.

Stem color.--147B.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 14 cm.Width: About 11 cm. Apex: Acuminate to aristate. Base: Attenuate.Margin: Palmately lobed. Texture: Abaxial and lower surfaces slightlypubescent. Veins prominent on lower surface. Color: Young foliage uppersurface: 147A. Young foliage lower surface: Between 147A and 147B.Mature foliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage lower surface: 147B.Venation upper surface: 147B. Venation lower surface: 147B. Petiole:Length: About 3 cm. Color: 147B/147C.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Decorative spray-type inflorescence form with spoon-shapedray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arising from leaf axils.Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plant flowers in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two to three weeks of long day/short night conditions afterplanting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditionsflower about 58 days later.

Postproduction longevity.--In an interior environment, flowering stemswill maintain good color and substance for at least four weeks in aninterior environment after one week of cool storage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About 14 inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (height): About 2.5 cm.Diameter of disc: About 3 mm.

Ray florets.--Shape: Flattened tube with open spoon. Length: About 4 cm.Tube length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 7.5 mm. Apex: Rounded. Base:Tubular. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny, smooth, glabrous. Aspect:Recurved. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 210. Color:When opening: 5A. Mature: Upper surface: 5A. Lower surface: 5A.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm.Color: Immature: 154A. Mature: Apex: 13A/15A. Base: White.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and angled about 30° to the stem. Length:First peduncle: About 12 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 15 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 18.5 cm. Texture: Very fine pubescence. Color: 147B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 14A. Pollen: Moderate, 14A in color. Gynoecium: Present on bothray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: No known Chrysanthemum diseases observed to date onplants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed `Estrella`, as illustrated and described.